Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1887-04-22
DUST TO DUST.
Death -of the Railroad King of the
Northwest After a Life Of Act
ii i've Usefulness,
Alexander Mitchell Bids Farewell to
All Things Earthly in a New
York Hotel.
SpeculatiOns as to His Successor.

York Hotel.
SpeculatiOns as to His Successor.
New YORK, April 1a.-Alexander Mitch
ell, of Milwaukee, president of the Chicago,
Milwaukee & St. Paul road, died at 2:45 this
afternoon at the Hoffman house, of pneu-
monia. His son John L. Mitchell is also at
the Hoffman house, suffering from pneu-
monia. Mrs. Mitchell arrived yesterday.
LATER-The immediate cause of the
death of Alexander Mitchell was failure
of action of the heart. Since December he
had been stopping with his wife at Alex
andria Villa, near Jacksonville, Fla. When
he came to this city with his old friend
Rev. DR.. Keene, of Milwaukee, two weeks
ago, he was enjoying unusually good
health. For some time he has been some
what troubled from impeded action of his
heart. Last Wednesday evening he went
out and afterwards had chill. He caught
a severe cold which developed into bron
chial pneumonia, and no doubt directly af-
fected the hearts action and caused his
death. The remains have been embalmed
and will be taken to Milwaukee in hi , pri-
vate car, leaving the grand central depot
about p. m. tomorrow and arriving at its
destination at 2:S0 p. m. on Friday. The
death of Mr.. Mitchell was both surprise
and shock to his many friends in this
city. Although quite i'll since Friday
night, no apprehension of serious ter
mination was felt by his attending physi-
clans, who were Dr. Mackie, of Milwaukee,
DR.. Bradley and DIR. Janeway, until 10
o'clock to-day. Many prominent railway
men called at the hotel this afternoon.
The board of directors will hold a spe-
cial meeting at the Office Of the company
tomorrow. DR.. Keene said to-day that the
death of Mr. Mitchell would be more
strongly felt than that of almost anyone
in the northwest. In this city he was
widely known not only in the railroad and
financial circles, but in the social world
He was member of the Union club and
also of the Manhattan. Mr.. Mitchell was
born in. Aberdeen, Scotland. in 1878. He
came to this country and settled in Mil
waukee in 1889. He at once became identi-
fec with the Wisconsin Fire, Marine and
Insurance bank. of which he was presi-
dent. In 1849 he became connected with
railroading and later was made president
OF the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul
road. Arrangements for his funeral will
not be made till the arrival of the remains
in Milwaukee. He will be buried in For
est Home cemetery. His wife will proceed
direct from Florida, where she now is, to
her home. John L. Mitchell and his wife
will accompany the body of his father
from New York. In politics, Mr.. Mitchell
1.y1,s 1oeo 3
publican party, and was afterward re-
publican. He became in 1866 supporter
of the administration of Andrew johnson,
and supported Horatio Seymour for presi
dent in 1858. In 1870 he was elected men,
Der of the lower house of congress and was
reelected in 1872. He afterward declined
further political service and returned to
his business pursuits. In 1876 he was a
Jealous supporter of Samuel Tilden for
president, and it vas we'll understood that
had Tilden secured the presidency he
would have been secretary of the treasury
In 1877, while he was in Europe, he was
nominated by Wisconsin democrats for
governor, but refused to be candidate.
FROM HIS HOME.
MILWAUKEE, April 19.-It was not till
O'Clock this afternoon that credence was
gwen to the news of Alexander MitchelPs
uO0Ous DdSlu SuoOus SdoillCl VI
elps bank, who had been associated with
him for nearly half century, was pros
trated by the news, and it was feared at
first he would not recover, as he is very
feeble. Gossip among merchants here is
centered principally about his successor
to the presidency of the Chicago, Milwau-
kee & st. Paul railroad, and presidency of
the Marine and Fire Insurance bank, of
which he owned 80 of 100 shares. Mitchelps
death has led to the knowledge that he had
about completed arrangements to retire
permanently from business by July 1st,
transferring the responsibility OF his i'm
mense banking business jointly to
his son, John L. Mitchell, his brother
in-law, John Johnston and David
Ferguson, and stepping down from
the presidency of the St. Paul road
This corporation when he first assumed it's
directions owned less than 200 miles of
road, and its rails now branch out an ag-
that the general Offices of the road would
be removed to Chicago on the death of
Mitchell. The charter of the company
. however, stipulates their location in Wis
cOnsin, and the president must also be a
resident of this state. It is thought that
Armour, of Chicago. both Of whom are
Leavily interested in the st. Paul road, will
succeed Mitchell. Mitchell is survived by
Y AWife, who is at present at her Florida
tilla, a son, John L., an adopted daughter,
Hrs. DR.. Mackie, of this city, and a sister
! ind brother living in Aberdeenshire, Scot
hnd. The Mitchell estate is variously es-
mated at from S50OOO,000 to $75, 100000.
d consists largely Of securities Of various
kinds, outside Of his magnificent residence
on Grand avenue, the chamber Of COM
merce and Mitchell bank buildings. He
.... ..